UNLESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SUPERSEDES (EXCEEDS) THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE PHARISEES, YOU CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD:

In Times Past, there were a People known as Pharisees. The Pharisees were the Custodians of The Mosaic Law (The Laws that God Passed forth through Moses, the Man of God).

The Pharisees were The Teachers of The Law. They were a People Learned and well-versed with The Laws of Moses. These Laws were not from Moses, but from The LORD God Almighty.

The Pharisees were the Daily Interpreters of The Mosaic Law. They were the Authorities (and Defenders) on matters to do with The Laws of Moses; in helping People to understand them. When it came to matters to do with The Torah (The Old Testament), its Interpretation, Implementation and Custody, it was the Pharisees that The Masses (The People) turned to for advice.

The Pharisees were essentially regarded, by the masses as “The Rabbinic and The Pastoral Council”.

The Pharisees were in the Top echelons of the Jewish Religious system; some even Rulers in The Jewish Leadership Council.

It thus came as a Shock, when The LORD Jesus Christ The Messiah Rebuked The Pharisees, and Declared to every Human Being everywhere on the earth, that: ‘“For I say to you, that unless your Righteousness exceeds the Righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”’

So why Did The LORD Jesus Christ The Messiah Rebuke The Pharisees and warned everybody everywhere not to Follow the Practice and The Behavior of The Pharisees? That is the Subject of what The LORD is going to help us to understand, at this Blessed Moment:

1- The First Point to Note is that The Pharisees were full of Self-Righteousness and Not The Righteousness before The LORD God Almighty:

Self-Righteousness is a Righteousness Based on Personal gratification and Personal “Correctness” i.e. being “Politically Correct” (Pleasing the Masses, Pleasing the entrenched System).

Righteousness Before The LORD God Almighty on the other hand, is about being Right before The LORD God Almighty by having the Knowledge of God, and following His Ways and His Requirements, according to His Perfect Plan, Perfect Will and Perfect Timing.

2- The Second Point to Note is that The Pharisees were Full of Pride (Spiritual Pride); they Lacked Humility. That is why you see Nicodemus; a Pharisee had to come to Jesus in the Cover of the Dark (at night); lest he pricks the fragile ego and Pride of his ilk (The other Pharisees) in broad day Light.

3- The Third Point to Note is that The Pharisees were Not Truly Born-Again and thus were not Saved; for they did not know what Salvation entailed.

That is why you see Jesus Christ immediately Confronting Nicodemus, a Pharisee, by saying to him: ‘“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”’

Jesus Christ also wondered even as He responded to Nicodemus: ‘“Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?”’

They (The Pharisees) essentially did not know and for that matter did not want anything to do with Repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and a walk in Godly Righteousness, Holiness, Truth and Complete Surrender to The LORD.

4-The Fourth Point to Note is that the Pharisees Focused on Moses (The Messenger), instead of Focusing on The LORD.

At No Time did The LORD tell them to Focus on Moses, instead of Him (The LORD). The LORD indeed told them to Listen to Moses and to Respect him, but to always Focus on Him (The LORD: YAHWEH/The Great I AM/JEHOVAH ELOHIM/JESUS CHRIST THE MESSIAH/THE HOLY SPIRIT).

We should therefore always Focus on The LORD and Not on the Servants of The LORD. Yes, we should Respect and Listen to the Messengers (The Servants of The LORD), that we may get and grasp the Message from The LORD, therein.

If you focus on The Messengers (The Servants of The LORD), at times it Becomes very easy to Lose The LORD, if one is not very Careful. Israel (Jews) is a Sad example of that, because they (Majority of them) Lost The Messiah (and Couldn’t recognize Him, to this very day), when they decided to Focus on Moses (and Mosaic Law) and not on The LORD. That is why, as is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.” (Romans 11:8).

But The LORD still Loves them (The Israelites/the Jews), and will give them a Chance to Accept Him (Jesus Christ The Messiah/Yeshua Ha Mashiach), as is written: ‘“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of The LORD!’” (Mathew 23: 37-39).

For Salvation for the entire World (including Israel) only Comes through Jesus Christ The Messiah (Yeshua Ha Mashiach).

5-The Fifth Point to Note is that, The Pharisees were the Men (and Women) of The Temple (The Altar/The Church).

-They were The Bishops, The Pastors, The Evangelists, The Brothers and Sisters in The LORD, of their Time. Meaning that they were right inside the Place of Worshiping The LORD. Yet The LORD called them Brood of Vipers!!! That means, they were not Worshiping The LORD Right (in the Right Way and Requirement: The Godly Righteousness-----The Righteousness before The LORD).

6-The Sixth Point to Note is that The Pharisees Thrived on Spiritual Naivety; whereby they were the “Know-it All” type. They Belittled others, and looked down upon others, because they assumed that they occupied a Higher Moral and Spiritual Ground. They thought that they were the Princes of The LORD; the only Princes of the LORD, and that besides them there were None. How wrong they were, because The LORD Himself Rebuked them; on their Faces. Because they even attempted to Belittle The LORD Himself.

So, Let us always Be Humble and allow The LORD to Mature us up, that we may now go beyond drinking Spiritual milk, but that we may Now start Partaking of The Spiritual Meat; Meant for The Mature Bride: The Bride That Indeed The Messiah Jesus Christ is Coming for to take to His Kingdom in Heaven.

For Yes Indeed, Unless Your (and My) Righteousness Supersedes (exceeds/goes beyond) The Righteousness of The Pharisees, You (and Me) Cannot See The Kingdom of the LORD God Almighty in Heaven. Meaning, Cannot enter Heaven.

Therefore, in your Worship and Service unto the LORD, Do Not Look Down upon Others. Be Humble (and Run away from Spiritual Pride and “Know-it-All” attitude; Because, The spirit of Phariseesism is Present until Today: The Modern-Day Pharisees).

Yes, it is Very Good to be Zealous for The LORD, but ensure that your Zealousness is Not Based on Self-Righteousness, But is Based on Knowledge of Righteousness before The LORD God Almighty. For whoever Follows The Ways and The Requirements of The LORD; Those indeed are The Righteous Ones before the LORD (Right before The LORD).

Teach, Preach, Correct, Disciple, Evangelise, Edify and Rebuke with the Wisdom of The LORD and in Love.

SHALOM!!! SHALOM!!! SHALOM!!!

Mathew 5: 17-19 ‘“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”’

John 3:1-3 ‘“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”’

John 3: 9-10 ‘“Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?”’

Romans 10: 1-5 ‘“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”’

2nd Timothy 2:23-26 ‘“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of The LORD must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them Repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”’

Mathew 23: 1-36 ‘“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. “Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Therefore he who swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by Him who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven, swears by the throne of God and by Him who sits on it. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.”’

PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IN ABSOLUTE REPENTANCE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS, TRUTH AND COMPLETE SURRENDER TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST (YESHUA/YAHUSHUA HA MASHIACH). TIME IS ABSOLUTELY OVER; THE MESSIAH JESUS CHRIST IS IMMINENTLY COMING TO PICK HIS BRIDE!!!

REPENTANCE PRAYER:

Precious Jesus,

I acknowledge today that you are LORD and Savior of all mankind,

and today I have recognized my shortfall,

I Repent and turn away from all Sin.

Please cover me with your Precious Blood,

and establish your Word in my life,

that I may be found in Righteousness and Holiness

and write my name in your Book of Life

and Baptize me with the Power of The Holy Spirit

in The Mighty Name of Jesus Christ.

AMEN.

Your Brother in Christ Jesus, and a Shepherd of The LORD,

Kevin Mirasi